How to pronounce ratchet
Say it like RACH-ut. Ratchet has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RACH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ratchet. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RACH
- ut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ratchet pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RACHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- utKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of ratchet
American and British speakers say ratchet in essentially the same way: /ˈrætʃət/ in the US and /ˈrætʃət/ in the UK.
British respelling: RACH-ut.
What does ratchet mean?
- A pawl, click, or detent for holding or propelling a ratchet wheel, or ratch, etc.
- A mechanism composed of a ratchet wheel, or ratch and pawl.
- A ratchet wrench.
- To increment or decrement; especially, to offer controlled motion that can increment while resisting decrement, or vice versa.“This holddown ratchets, which allows the person loading the trailer to cinch down the straps.”
- To cause (something) to become incremented or decremented.“Get this holddown into position, but don't start ratcheting it yet. When I say go, you start ratcheting it, OK?”
Where does ratchet come from?
From French rochet (“bobbin, spindle, ratchet”), from Italian rocchetto (“spool, ratchet”).
Words that rhyme with ratchet
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ratchet.
Questions about saying ratchet
How do you pronounce ratchet?
Say RACH-ut. The American pronunciation is /ˈrætʃət/. In British English it is /ˈrætʃət/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ratchet?
Ratchet has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RACH). Broken into parts: RACH · ut.
Do Americans and Brits say ratchet the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrætʃət/ and the British form is /ˈrætʃət/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.